Recumbent cycle and position-adjusting mechanism for a recumbent cycle

ABSTRACT

A recumbent cycle including a primary frame consisting of a base frame and an upright frame. The frame unit has a secondary frame including a first end with a drive wheel. Two cranks each with one pedal are rotatably supported on a shaft of the drive wheel to impart motion to a flywheel. A guide wheel is rotatably mounted on a second end of the secondary frame for securing a position-adjusting mechanism to the secondary frame such that a tube is movable on the guide wheel and adapted to extend from a main body and retract thereinto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to an recumbent cycle with an adjustable seat, and more particularly, to an recumbent cycle with an adjustable seat to meet the needs or requirements of an operator as well as a position-adjusting mechanism for moving the seat of the recumbent cycle in desired position.

2. Description of the Related Art

The busy modern people set more and more emphasis on the physical health and go to the training centers to do some physical exercises in the spare time. But the most criticized defect of all kinds of sports equipments is their fixed sizes and dimensions, which can not fit people with different height and figure.

From the description of the TW 84201826—“adjustable structure of recumbent cycle seats”, we can acquire that the change of seats position in sports equipment in beginning phase will be fulfilled with the double columns which have some drilling holes. But the screw must be demounted, the column has to be extended or retracted for increasing or decreasing the total length thereof, and then the screw has to be fastened. The procedure is too complicated and hard to carry out.

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantage, a base is installed under the seat. A control lever is employed to manipulate an eccentric resistant block to achieve a function of clamping positioning and rotating release. Although the position of the seat can be set in the equipment chassis, a rubber cushion is placed between the seat and the chassis for the damping purpose. The wear on contacting area is significant and it resists the movement of seat. Then, the resistant block is not easy to press the chassis and fix the seat in position.

Furthermore, a sliding groove which is set in one side of chassis is disclosed in the TW 92208115—“The Structure of Adjustable Recumbent Cycle”. The adjusting welding parts is mounted at a bottom end of the groove. The seat connects with these welding parts and can extend and retract any time in storage position within this sliding groove. This structure is very similar to the prior art, and the whole structure is complicated and it brings difficulty for the maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention is to provide a recumbent cycle that features a simple configuration and allows for an easy adjustment of the seat position.

It is another object of the invention is to provide a position-adjusting mechanism that is suitable for all kinds of exercise apparatuses including recumbent cycle.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a recumbent cycle including a primary frame consisting of a base frame and an upright frame. The frame unit has a secondary frame including a first end with a drive wheel. Two cranks each with one pedal are rotatably supported on a shaft of the drive wheel to impart motion to a flywheel. A guide wheel is rotatably mounted on a second end of the secondary frame for securing a position-adjusting mechanism to the secondary frame such that a tube is movable on the guide wheel and adapted to extend from a main body and retract thereinto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recumbent cycle with an adjustable seat;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a position-adjusting mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tube in accordance with FIG. 2 in partial section; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main body in accordance with FIG. 2 in partial section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a recumbent cycle 100 includes a primary frame 10 with a base frame 11 and an upright frame extending from one end of the base frame 11. The primary frame 10 further includes a drive wheel 13 with two cranks 14 supported on a shaft. Each of the cranks 14 has a pedal 15 at a free end thereof. The pedals 15 moves in an alternating succession to impart rotary motion to the drive wheel 13. Meanwhile, the rotary motion is imparted to a flywheel 17 by a belt 16. A resistance apparatus (not shown) is attached to the flywheel 17 such that the loading of the operator or the resistance during an exercise session is increased.

Besides, the primary frame 10 includes a secondary frame 20. The drive wheel 13 is supported at one end of the secondary frame 20 while a guide wheel 21 is pivotally positioned at the other end thereof. A position-adjusting mechanism 30 includes a main body 31 fixed on the secondary frame 20 in place. A tube 32 extendable and retractable within the main body 31 is slidably disposed on the guide wheel 21. A control lever 33 is adapted to adjust the position of the tube 32. In this way, a seat 22 on the tube 32 is displaceable relative to the main body 31 responsive to user manipulation of the control lever 33 extending from the tube 32. Accordingly, the effect to adjust the seat position on the recumbent cycle 100 can be achieved.

The recumbent cycle 100 assembled by the aforementioned components can be additionally equipped with an electronic console 18 for indicating all kinds of exercise values and actuating different actions of function keys. Furthermore, the operator can adjust the position of the seat according to individual needs or requirements. In addition, the operator can adjust the position of the seat on the recumbent cycle 100 only by moving the control lever 33. It's more convenient than the conventional recumbent cycle in which the position of the seat is adjustable by screwing action. Meanwhile, the recumbent cycle 100 in accordance with the invention has a more simple construction and is more easily operable.

FIG. 2 illustrates a position-adjusting mechanism 30 for the recumbent cycle 100. The position-adjusting mechanism 30 includes a hollow-shaped main body 31. A stop pad 311 is positioned at one end of the main body 31 while the tube 32 is movably received within the main body 31. The inside of the main body 31 serves as a hollow 312, and the tube 32 includes a roller 321 installed at one end of the hollow 312. The roller 321 is so dimensioned that it precisely fits into the hollow 312 and is in contact with top and bottom walls 3121 of the hollow 312. In this way, the tube 32 is more smoothly displaceable relative to the main body 31 with an economy of effort.

The tube 32 includes a limit piece 322 at one end thereof within the hollow 312. The limit piece 322 has two opposing support members 323. The roller 321 is pivotally coupled in close vicinity to the end portion between the support members 323. Two blocking elements 324 are interposed between the roller 321 und the limit piece 322. The limiting elements 324 each include a contact pad 3241 facing the walls 3121 so that the tube 32 can be fixed at any shiftable position within the hollow 312 of the main body 31.

The tube 32 has a recess 331 at one end thereof outside the main body 31. The recess 331 is adapted to receive the control lever 33 to allow for its attachment to the tube 32 by a fixing element 332 that closes the exit of the recess 331.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inside of the tube 32 is hollowed out to form an inner chamber 325. The control lever 33 is received within the inner chamber 325. A covering piece 333 is provided between the recess 331 und the fixing element 332. Moreover, a connecting arm 334 is vertically mounted on the control lever 33 within the inner chamber 325. The connecting arm 334 is swiveled about the covering piece 333 responsive to the user manipulation of the control lever 33. Meanwhile, the distal end of the connecting arm 334 is pivotally coupled to an intermediate element 335.

Again, referring to FIG. 4, another end of the intermediate element 335 within the inner chamber 325 extends to the limit piece 322 and includes a link member 336. The link member 336 is pivotally coupled to a first and a second connecting arm 337, 338. Meanwhile, a free end of the first and the second connecting arm 337, 338 is pivotally connected to a limiting element 324, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the steps of operating the position-adjusting mechanism 30 is described as follows:

a: When the control lever 33 is moved to the position of the solid line (see FIG. 3), the connecting arm 334 within the inner chamber 325 is synchronically turned in the same direction. In this way, the intermediate element 335 will be moved in the direction of the control lever 33.

b. The movement of the intermediate element 335 will impart motion to the link member 336. Meanwhile, the first and the second connecting arm 337, 338 will be displaced in the same direction.

c. The shift of the first and the second connecting arm 337, 338 causes an opposing swiveling of both limiting elements 324 on the respective pivots 326. In this way, the contact pads 3241 are detached from the top and the bottom wall 3121 within the hollows 312 of the main body 31 for interrupting the locking effect in a clamped manner.

d. The released tube 32 is then supported by the roller 321 in contact with the top and the bottom wall 3121 for extending out of the main body 31 or retracting thereinto.

e. When the tube 32 is located in position, the control lever 33 may be moved back to the position shown by the dashed line. Now, the connecting arm 334 restores itself to its original position. So, the intermediate element 335 is moved in the direction of the roller 321 and retracted between the limiting elements 324.

f. The retracting action of the intermediate element 335 imparts motion of the link member 336 for raising the limiting elements 324 in pivotal connection with the link member 336 until both contact pads 3241 are tightly pressed against the top and the bottom wall 3121 within the hollow 312 in position. In this way, the tube 32 is stably positioned within the main body 31 again.

Accordingly, advantages of the recumbent cycle with an adjustable seat in accordance with the invention are simple configuration and easy operation. Meanwhile, the position-adjustable mechanism has not disclosed in the prior art or publications yet and is suitable for all fitness equipments including recumbent cycle. These are all within the scope of the invention.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A recumbent cycle, comprising: a) a primary frame having a base frame and an upright frame extending from one end of the base frame; b) a secondary frame positioned over the primary frame, the secondary frame having a first end with a drive wheel, two cranks each with one pedal being rotatably supported on a shaft of the drive wheel; the drive wheel imparting motion to the flywheel via a belt, a guide wheel being rotatably mounted on a second end of the secondary frame; c) means for adjusting the position of a tube within a main body, the tube being extendable from the main body or retractable thereinto in place responsive to user manipulation of a control lever; the main body being tightly secured to the secondary frame such that the tube is movable on the guide wheel; and d) a seat tightly attached to the tube such that it is synchronically movable with the tube.
 2. A position-adjusting mechanism for a recumbent cycle, comprising: a) a main body having one end with a stop pad, the inside of the main body being recessed to form a hollow; b) a tube inserted through the stop pad into the main body, the tube having a limit piece at one end of the hollow, the limit piece including two corresponding support members, the support members having two facing limiting elements, the limiting elements each having a contact pad to the wall of the hollow; and c) a control lever swiveled on the tube outside the main body for controlling the limiting elements either to press against the wall of the hollow so as to fix the tube at any place within the hollow of the main body or to release therefrom for an extending or a retracting action of the tube within the hollow of the main body.
 3. The position-adjusting mechanism for a recumbent cycle as claimed in claim 2 wherein a roller is rotatably supported on a shaft between both support members in close vicinity to the end thereof, and the roller is so dimensioned that it precisely fits into the hollow and is in contact with top and bottom walls of the hollow, and wherein the limiting elements are positioned between the limit piece and the roller such that the tube is more smoothly displaceable relative to the main body with an economy of effort.
 4. The position-adjusting mechanism for a recumbent cycle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inside of the tube is hollowed out to form an inner chamber in which the control lever is received, and wherein a connecting arm is vertically mounted on the control lever within the inner chamber and swiveled about the covering piece responsive to user manipulation of the control lever, and wherein the distal end of the connecting arm is pivotally coupled to an intermediate element having a link member that is pivotally coupled to a first and a second connecting arm, and wherein a free end of the first and the second connecting arm is pivotally connected to a limiting element, respectively whereby the position of the tube within the main body is controllable responsive to the user manipulation of the control lever. 